Leona06

Congrats Jane... Those are AWESOME observations about yourself! I really think the band helps us learn to take time to observe. We are spending less time stuffing our faces and more time realizing why we were stuffing our faces! I've done a lot of thinking too over these six months... and have come up with many observations to, but mostly with my therapist! She specializes with people who have eating disorders or who have had wls. She herself had lapband! My best realization is the one that no matter what- my band will beat me up! I've given up fighting with my band, I'm ready to let it work the way it was supposed to, and I'm gonna stop eating and drinking foods that defeat the purpose (my NY's resolution)... I'm also gonna kick my butt with exercising. I have to get this weight off! To me, 6 months with almost 50 pounds gone is NOT enough. Sometimes I wish I did GB just because I'd already be at goal by now. TO me, the GB is the EASY way out. LB is much harder and much more challenging. This is only a tool vs. changing my body to do it for me. But then I think about all the issues I'm working through as my body shrinks. At some point, I would have had to deal with them anyway with either surgery, but at least now I am doing it together. This truely is a life- changing event. I will never be the same person I was 6 months ago, and I proud to say, I will never be the same size either. SO this year I am counting the pounds I lose as double pounds. For every pound I lose, that's really a 2 pound loss because I would have never stopped gaining without my LB. I love my LB, but boy, am I ever tight now! The third fill was a charm :huggie:

HEY EVERYONE!! I was just reading everyones postings and I have to say - Congrats everyone! I'm doing well- just went to see my doc today and lost 11 pounds since Thanksgiving! I got another fill and when he was in there he only was able to pull out 2ccs of the 2.5ccs he filled me with last time. SO he put 2.75 back in because I needed a fill so I could have 3.25ccs or 2.75 I'm not sure. I asked him if I should be worried about it and he said he wasn't worried so I shouldn't be... but I am. where did it go? ahhh! Well I gotta go... I'll talk to you guys again soon! I missed my July bandsters... and count me in for the 15 pounds gone for Valentine's Day... btw, I worked out for an hour and a half today. I want to lose more weight faster!

I was stupid this weekend and drank A LOT over New Year's... I threw up in 2 horrible sessions today and have just had water until now when I started mushies. I hope I didn't hurt my band.... I feel like the stupidiest person in the world- I love my band but I really didn't think about it while taking the shots. I just wanted to be normal and do what everyone else was doing. I am NO longer drinking though- that was it... It was horrible!

Merry Christmas everyone!! I almost made my new year' goal of 50 pounds.... so I'm pretty happy about that! But you were right KariK, this year we will actually keep our NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION... so I need to think of another one... maybe a sugar daddy for purchasing new clothes? haha well I can wish

Whew, July bandsters have definitely gone through a LOT! I'm glad to hear you are better Sherri... isn't it ironic that the protein did that?! grrr.... After entering womanhood again for the first time in 3 years, I suddenly dropped 11 pounds in a week and a half! WHAT?! I think it's because I only craved SALAD during my period. I ate 2 one cup salads a day for the entire time. And I'm working out with my bike. It was just so weird to get on the scale and do that kind of a doubletake! I'm getting back in the dating world too- I'm kinda seeing 4 guys, but only really dating one of them. It's been fun to feel appreciated! :eek: but i'm behaiving... I promise Hugs to all- the struggle is WORTH IT!

HEY EVERYONE!!!!! I just wanted to tell everyone that I'm alive and doing well! It's been a few weeks- so sorry about that! I got an upper respitory infection and was sick for a while... Good news though... I am losing weight again after my second fill up to 2.5 in 4ccs! I can't eat nearly as much as I used to and I fill fuller for sooo much longer! I'm not sure how much weight because I've started my period for the first time in 3 years!!! ( I was on depo provera and it stopped it for the longest time. It took 9 freaking months to get it back after my last dose of the depo) I'm not gonna weigh myself til its over. More good news... I got an exercise bike in my apartment now!!! I just don't feel like using it with the terrible cramps I'm having, so I'll start using it more soon. I have to get going, but I wanted to say how happy I am to see how well everyone is doing. Don't get frustrated... I've found out that this is just gonna take a bit longer that I thought it would. But we are not GAINING. That is the most important part of this. Imagain how much you would have gained without the surgery and add that to your weight loss. It'll make it better! Goodnight, I'll talk more on here, I promise!

Hey everyone! I'm in NYC in Spanish Harlem here.... I'm 5 months out and doing well... anyone in nyc wanna meet for coffee or something? It would be great to start a support group in nyc!

Also you are on liquids after the fills right> My motto is - what goes in is what comes out! :girl_hug: horrible image, but its right lol Good luck!

Hi Zoe, I'd love to take the size 22s from torrid... I love that store!! I even used to work there in the summer just to get a discount! lol In fact, I bought a shirt from there today! You should check their website out- its an extra 50% off of clearance right now! :girl_hug: Just let me know what to do about paying for shipping or whatnot... Thanks! Great job over turkey day everyone! My pumpkin soup was delicious and I was soo glad to be on liquids I needed this fill!!!!

Hey Everyone!!! Sorry it's been SO long, but its been busy! I just performed Opera Scenes with full orchestra at my school! It was amazing to be onstage performing again... I sure love that feeling, but I can't wait to not feel like the fat girl onstage- It'll happen soon though. I had my second fill today- the day before turkey day, so I'll be on liquids for the next 2 days, but its ok- I want to lose weight already! Plus, I'm sick of celebrating holidays with food. So I got a bottle of wine, after all, its a liquid lol... My mom is going to make me some pumpkin soup tomorrow too. So I'm happy, and its nice to be home for a week-long vacation! I go back to NYC on Sunday night. This fill was not bad AT ALL! My doc put the needle in (no numbing of course- he doesn't do that) and it didn't hurt at all, he got my port first try, and it was over in about 30 seconds. In fact, I didn't even feel the needle coming out- he walked away from me and I thought the needle was still in, but it was all over. I wasn't nervous either- I'm trying to get away from my nerves from needles, and today was a great day to lose my fright. All in all, its been a great few weeks... I haven't lost a lot of weight, but that's because I needed this fill. I see that everyone has been doing sooo well! Way to go, July bandsters! We're 4 months out and surviving without food! Its a liberating feeling to not be imprisoned by food anymore! Happy Turkey Day and Black Friday (yay shopping!!!!)

coffee!! i never eat bfast... just never hungry!

Congrats!!!!! The hard part is over! Now enjoy the ride, and the liquids lol.... don't however long you are doing that is nothing in the scheme of your WL journey! Just keep swimming... keep swimming lol Have a quick recovery! Leona

Congrats KariK!!!!! I can't wait to do that! keep it up!!! I can't wait for my fill the day before t-day! I can't wait to lose more weight!

Sometime soon.... i don't like pictures!!! I'm doing pretty good though... I'll be home the 21st through that sunday for turkey day, so maybe we can all get together on that sunday? Hopefully I see you guys! Hugs to all my MD girls!

Hey Teresita! I'm doing much better... I started back exercising on Friday with my dance class, but I'm getting SO busy now as I am going to school full-time, working part-time, and am about to have a performance (so I'm in prep mode with tons of rehearsals)... I can eat almost anything... bread, etc, so it's been really hard keeping my meals in a good spot, but I'm doing it! At this point, I'm just getting through the next few weeks until I can get my fill (my appt is the day before turkey day, but its the only day I can do without missing school... I really don't mind liquids on that day though... I want the weight off!) I was doing arm exercises and then I got a really bad cold (the third one since sept) It seems like everytime I get better, I get sick right away again. Oh, and I gave blood a few days ago, and they said my iron and nutrients were high so that was good news! Other than that, I'm just looking for a new place in nyc to move to, and getting ready for my performances. My part-time job is HARD because I am teaching/tutoring elementary school kids how to read and such. The kids are NIGHTMARES!!! So I get really tired, and by the time I just leave for school at 8am and get home at 9pm or later, I'm too tired to do ANYTHING but get ready for bed. I don't know what to do, because I really don't have time to workout, but I really want to! I'm doing well, sorry for not checking in for a while, its just been really busy!

Hey everyone... 35 pounds gone... but I'm getting second fill very SOON! I'm looking forward to restriction again!

Hey Karik, I totally understand your decision to wait for a fill til after tday, but I had to make the appt for my 2nd fill for the day before tday because thats the only day I have off from school until Christmas... grrr liquids for t-day. So I guess I won't be eating then lol. At least I'll be forced to behave lol. BTW, my no results for my hip yet, but I will say that walking funny is making my left knee hurt now too! boo hoo! I hate being crippled!!! Well GOODNIGHT.... Its REALLY late!

Hey everyone... remember that pain in my lower right side? I went to the doc today and they took Xrays... I may have a stress fracture in my hip, or pulled muscles in my hip/back. I've been doing too much and its been hard living on this 4th floor walk-up. If the xrays are right, then I'll be on a cane or crutches for a while. It's pretty painful, but hopefully it will go away soon, I have YET to begin exercising since surgery. I guess it will be water aerobics first when I can (in 3 weeks or so). So much for my dance class at school. I am just SO frustrated because I can't move past 238 right now, and I just want to get down to 200 by Christmas. I'm not restricted at ALL- I'm eating almost normal portions, and I can even exercise to get it off. I can't get a fill until the day before thanksgiving because of being in NYC at school, so I'm just gonna have to deal with this, and I know my doc will not be happy because I am sure I won't lose much between then and now (unless I only eat salads and I am seriously considering it). grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Ok sorry for the rant, just needed to get it out!

mysherrijo: aww I'm so sorry you're feeling sick... I've just gotten sick too- it stinks! I'm sure your family understands that you are sick, and you shouldn't be around them anyway because you care enough about them to keep them from getting sick too. Sometimes our bodies really just need a break, and this is your bodies' way of saying it. So take a break. and Everyone loses at different paces. For some, its easy, for others it's really hard. Just keep telling yourself that you didnt get that way overnight and its not coming off overnight. Sometimes I wish I had GB, so I'd be losing quicker, but this way is so much healthier. Just think, the slower you lose, the less PS you'll have to go through. I know you're going through a rough time, but you'll get through it. Just hang in there! Karik- Congrats on finding the best way to exercise again... wink wink lol Mary- Sounds like you had fun getting a fill! I'm glad it wasn't a horrible experience. I was really hoping to get a second fill last thursday, but its not quite time yet. I'm scheduled for the day before thanksgiving, so it looks like I'll be eating my T-day dinner a day early haha. Looks like everyone is doing pretty good... keep it up! After I start feeling better from my cold, I am joining a gym, I have 4 to chose from! ahh! :girl_hug:

hey everyone! I went to my doc in Maryland yesterday (from NYC...yes it was tiring lol), and he said I didn't need a fill... that I was losing enough as it was, and just needed to exercise. At first he was kind of mad because I haven't been really exercising, but I reminded him about my stomach pains. He said the pains are not band related, most likely they are GYN (like everyone has said). I wish I would have gotten a fill, but since Aug 14th I've lost 15 pounds- 7 weeks and so an average of a bit more than 2 pounds a week. so No fill... he said STRENOUS aerobics 3xs a week doing the class until I feel like I am gonna die (I thought that was funny) I've always been in pretty good shape so I am looking forward to exercising again. My dance class at school is not that strenous, we warm up and stretch for about 45 min, then we are learning how to waltz and partner dance... for about 45 min, then a cool down. But it's only once a week. Well I need to go... I have work training tomorrow morning! I am being trained to teach children how to read! I can't wait to do that... it should be so much fun!

mysherrijo- I talked to my therapist about my family situation (similar but not the same of course)... as you know, my mom had the lapband done a week and a half before me, and then its just my dad at home. He's trying to cut back but even while we were still on liquids he would eat KFC in front of us. The smell was sooo good! He still pretty much made my mom cook him regular foods while we were not allowed to eat them. Its like torture. I dont think he meant to hurt us but it did. My therapist told me that people deal with the aftersurgery differently. Its a MAJOR change. I mean, good for your husband, he can lose the weight with you... but when he gains it back, and you don't you can finally say how priceless the 15,000 was. I personally think it is unhealthy to have him "compete" with you after you have gone through so much. I really feel for you. I hope you can feel the hug I'm throwing at you right now. SO this weekend has been crazy... My best friend was dismissed from school which was SO horrible. And so friday night we drank away our sorrows with tequila shots. But I didn't throw up or even get to that point because I know my limits, but one or two more and I would have been hugging the throne. Saturday I woke up at 1pm and then spent the day in a bubble bath starting and finishing a 300page feel-good book. It was nice. Then I was supposed to go out and see a movie, but that didnt happen so I just watched T.V. and went to bed. I woke up today at 11 and now I'm watching an opera on PBS. Its pretty nice. Its been pretty relaxing, and I guess just a big weekend of grieving. I have no idea what's gonna happen with my best friend. I really hope he doesn't leave me and go home to Michigan! I don't know what I'd do! ahh! Hugs to everyone... I'm gonna try to get out of the house today and do something because it stopped raining and now its so pretty out. Talk to you guys later!

KariK- I hope your toe gets better... I'm sure you've done this, but have you soaked your toe? If it hurts you, then do chair exercises. Thanks for the info about the estrogen.. I read that somewhere but I completely forgot about that! Sometimes putting two and two together takes someone else lol. I also think it has something to do with coming off of B.C. I as on for a few years. I have to go now because a friend just called-with a MASSIVE crisis, but thanks for worrying about me and I'll write something later! Hugs everyone

Sorry everyone for the long time no update... I'm not sure if I said it, but they think my abdominal pains are GYN related.. not band related. So its good and bad, I guess. I start counseling tomorrow with a weight-loss psycharitrist... should be good! I'm floating on 240 and can't seem to get below it, so next thursday when I see my surgeon, he better give me another fill! I wanna be 200 by New Years! Congrats everyone on your awesome weightlosses!!!! I'm one week out of being 3 months! whew! Thats crazy. I feel like I've had this band forever, but I do feel my port when doing ab work, so be careful!

thanks everyone for your awesome words of encouragement! I am so glad my middle is going away! did I say that I just purchased my first 14/16 shirt this weekend? I started at a 22/24! I think it was just the make of the shirt...but it made me feel good! Kari... glad you are feeling better too!

Wow I just read some of the board to catch up.. .I've only PB'd once- after eating too dry salmon from IKEA lol... I can eat ANYTHING right now- rice, pasta, tortillas, wraps, chicken, etc... I've eaten Taco bell... mc'donalds snack wraps and other things with no problem. I guess I'm lucky? I'm even eaten pita breads and pretty much anything else. No real doughy breads yet (haven't tried) and I tried coke once after putting it open in the fridge overnight but had hiccups for 4 hours after that, so its a no go for that anymore. But i've never been a big soda person- more of a sweetened iced tea girl... lol should I get a fill if I can eat about a cup but am still losing weight? all i can think is, I'm not snacking and I'm eating healthier, and exercising alot..